“The Copenhagen-based theatre company Global Stories’ project Through Different Eyes has been removed from the Malmö Festival after more than 200 Swedes signed a petition accusing the project of racism” – specifically, of being modern-day blackface.”

In the latest of a series of art-bombings in Sofia, the figures in a post-World War II memorial to the Red Army were repainted to look like, among others, Superman, the Joker, Captain America, Ronald McDonald, and a black Santa Claus. The Russian government wants this to stop.

“Addiction problems are widespread among classical musicians, for many reasons,” she says. “There is the lifestyle, the odd hours, working weekends, post-concert socialising. Many players use alcohol and beta-blockers to control their performance anxiety and then, after the ‘high’ of a performance, musicians can struggle to ‘come down’ and therefore drink to relax.”

“The classic film was first shown 75 years ago. Since then, there have been many interpretations, from religious allegory to an acid trip. BBC Culture picks out five of the most interesting readings of L Frank Baum’s modern fairy tale.” (includes video clips)

“The live screening of Monty Python’s farewell show has prompted an Ofcom investigation over bad language. The broadcasting regulator said the O2 concert had generated complaints ‘about the broadcast of the most offensive language’ before the 21.00 watershed.’

William Deresiewicz: “They’re ‘excellent’ because they have fulfilled all the requirements for getting into an elite college, but it’s very narrow excellence. These are kids who will perform to the specifications you define, and they will do that without particularly thinking about why they’re doing it. They just know that they will jump the next hoop.”

The YouTube stream – 11:30 am to 3:00 pm U.S. Central Time – will feature artistic director Ashley Wheater as moderator and will include interviews with Christopher Wheeldon and (after they’ve caught their breath) company members.

“A powerful lobby has supported [Swiss] legislation that would prevent tobacco companies” – such as Oettinger Davidoff – “from sponsoring major events, such as Art Basel. A similar law is already in effect across the European Union, and Swiss interior minister Alain Berset is a a powerful backer of this new one.”

“Artists will no longer be forced into such square holes as music, theatre and literature under a radical overhaul of arts funding announced by the Australia Council for the Arts. More than 90 grants will be reduced to just five common categories next year,” and application procedures have been streamlined.

“The [Rockford] City Council voted Aug. 11 to dissolve the Rockford Arts Commission, including releasing the remaining seven board members from their volunteer functions with the city.” Four of the 11 members “had recently resigned ‘because they didn’t like the drama’ of the conflict between the city and the members of the group.”

“The unions representing the orchestra and chorus recognized the financial fragility of the opera house and agreed to their first pay cut in decades, while management abandoned its toughest demands and agreed to make significant reductions of its own, with independent oversight.” (emphasis added)